WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Marist men's tennis team defeated Fairfield in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tennis tournament, 4-1. The Red Foxes advance to the MAAC Championship match on Sunday, April 27 against No. 2 seeded Monmouth, seeking their 11th championship title.
“The entire team is excited about going to the finals tomorrow. One of our team captains, Dalen Klassen, got the team together at the end of the match and complimented them on the fact that different players showed up for different matches which makes us a strong team. I would have to cite the play of our third through six players who all won in straight sets. Tomorrow should be another exciting match with Monmouth who certainly had a difficult match with Niagara. We look forward to tomorrow with anticipation.”
Fairfield clinched the doubles point, picking up wins at first and second doubles. Ian Tesmond and Cameron Amyot defeated seniors Lorenzo Rossi (Lugano, Switzerland) and Will Reznek (Toronto, Canada), 8-3. Senior Dalen Klassen (St. Louis, Mo.) and sophomore Trym Nagelstad (Oslo, Norway) fell to Dennis Slobinsky and Ofir Solomon, 8-2.
The first and second singles matches were unfinished but Marist would go on to sweep the final four singles matches in straight sets. Reznek topped Zlobinsky, 6-1, 6-2. Junior Joseph Dube (Livonia, Mich.) defeated Amyot, 6-1, 6-1. Sophomore Fredrik Bjerke (Oslo, Norway) clinched the match for the Red Foxes with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Bjorn Merinder at fifth singles. Junior Matteo Giudici (Parma, Italy) defeated Peter Colliard in the final singles match, 6-2, 6-1.
Top-seeded Marist faces No. 2 Monmouth on Sunday, April 27 for the MAAC Championship title. The Red Foxes are vying for their sixth in seven years and 11th overall crown.
